Metals

1991 · ref. 27365 — Charleston: The Charleston Museum 1991. 3rd. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. 11.2x8.8x0.9in. revised. Dust jacket in clear protector. Burton's pioneer work in the field has been edited revised and brought up-to-date by Warren Ripley. It is now republished in an entirely different format with corrections where needed and insertion of considerable additional information that has been found during the intervening decades. The biographies of more than 75 silversmiths have been added to Burton's original tally to bring the total number of individuals and small firms discussed in the text to more than 550. Early editions of the book contained fewer than a dozen photographs of silver. There are now illustrations of more than 150 pieces of silver that repose in collections of museums private organizations or individuals. In addition there are approximately 20 sketches of items such as pieces of silver that were not available for photographing contemporary newspaper advertisements or bills of sale. More important from the point of view of collectors dealers and individuals owning early South Carolina silver the 90 or so touchmarks of silversmiths reproduced by Burton have been more than doubled in number and in some cases several different marks used by a smith are shown. The biographies are accompanied by notes a bibliography a table of silversmith's initials and an index. They combine to make this the most complete and accurate book available today on South Carolina silversmiths and their work. 185pp 2.23lb 11.2x8.8x0.9in The Charleston Museum hardcover